Search

A recent study conducted by researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, has explored the genetic heterogeneity of ulcerative colitis (UC), a major form of inflammatory bowel disease. The study used a genome-wide association approach to analyze the genetic profiles of patients with medically refractory UC and non-medically refractory UC, as well as controls. The researchers identified several significant genetic variants associated with UC, including those near the MMEL1 gene and in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region. The study suggests that targeted recruitment of individuals with severe disease may help identify additional risk and prognostic loci for UC. [Extracted from the article]